Yachties coast in
SAILORS knocked back celebratory drinks at the Gladstone Yacht Club yesterday.
The cause for celebration: finishing the 64th annual Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race.
The first boat to arrive was 30m super maxi Wild Thing. The vessel cruised into the harbour just before 9.35am Saturday.
Brisbane maxi chaser Black Jack and rival super maxi Lahana followed closely behind.
Local yachty Jeff Paul skippered 9.43m Immigrant - the first Gladstone boat over the line just before 5.40am yesterday.
"It was such a relaxed race. There were no issues, no dramas," the commodore of the Gladstone Yacht Club said. This is Paul's 17th go at the Brisbane to Gladstone and Immigrant's seventh run.
He said it was an honour to compete against the top placing yachts.
"To see high calibre boats like Wild Thing, Lahana, Black Jack and Shogan - these are multi-million dollar yachts - compete in our 'little' race is humbling and awe inspiring."
